Pay two-way toll for going to the airport

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Navayuga Devanahalli Tollway Private Limited—its airport road concessionaire—who were dragging their feet over two-way toll collection en route to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) have started two-way collection from 5 pm on Wednesday evening.

This was to start one month ago, but the move was postponed for reasons undisclosed. They had earlier sought 75 Reserve Police personnel to ensure that there is no trouble when toll collection starts. The NHAI wanted at least 25 police personnel to be present in each shift as they are anticipating trouble.

Vandalism and mayhem were reported at toll gates after two-way toll collection was started. The High Court had to intervene and stay the collection of two-way toll on the road to the airport. Sensing trouble from taxi drivers, tourist taxi associations and pro-Kannada activists, once collection of two-way toll was started, the authorities are said to have sought Reserve Police personnel for a few days to ensure incident-free vehicular movement.

After an alternative road to the airport was commissioned for traffic on March 5, the toll plaza had been incurring a loss of about 15 lakh every day. Toll collection had come down to Rs 36-38 lakh a day from about Rs 52 lakh. "Taxis and other vehicles would take the alternative road," said a toll plaza employee.